As Jesse's initial excitement gradually subsided, she began to truly feel the changes brought on by the Speed Force. Each run and subsequent calculation became more precise, her mind and body working in perfect synchronization. The Speed Force not only accelerated her physical movements but also heightened her cognitive abilities, enabling her to overcome the obstacles she had faced earlier and complete the preliminary design of Su Sheng's new suit.
Eager to show her progress, Jesse brought the design sketch to Su Sheng, who was lying in bed, ready to rest.
"Go take a shower," Su Sheng instructed, taking the sketch from her. As Jesse headed to the bathroom, he glanced over the design. Though he couldn't fully grasp every detail, it seemed solid enough.
"How does it look?" Jesse asked as she climbed into bed after her shower, her hair still damp.
"We'll know tomorrow when we test it," Su Sheng replied, pulling Jesse into his arms. He then gently removed her towel and tossed it aside. Jesse felt a wave of panic, the earlier excitement and joy evaporating.
Although she had been sleeping next to Su Sheng for the past few days, and while there had been physical closeness, nothing had happened between them. Jesse had grown accustomed to being treated more like a human-shaped pillow. But now, she sensed that what she had feared was finally about to happen.
And as she expected, Su Sheng's hands began to move, caressing her in a way that was far more intimate than before. Jesse didn't resist because she knew it would be futile.
"No, please, can't we just… like before?" Jesse pleaded.
"How many days has it been?" Su Sheng asked suddenly.
Jesse froze, thinking quickly. "It's been seven or eight days since I came to this world."
"So, even if I'm not someone who thinks with his lower half, I'm still a normal man. Isn't it natural to have needs? And don't tell me you don't feel anything either—I remember how you react every day when I hold you. This is just a normal physiological need," Su Sheng said with a smile. "But, if you answer my question correctly, I'll let you off tonight."
"What's the question?" Jesse asked hurriedly.
"Why do people usually show affection around noon?"
Why show affection around noon? Jesse was stumped. As someone who prided herself on her intelligence, inheriting her father's scientific acumen, she analyzed the question from every angle—biological, logical, even mathematical—but couldn't come up with a definitive answer.
"Because sooner or later, there will be retribution," Su Sheng said with a chuckle.
Retribution sooner or later? Is this a riddle? Jesse wondered, feeling frustrated.
"How about I tell you a story?" Su Sheng said softly, kissing her cheek. "In the morning, you saw a little niece trying to make clothes for her doll. She was threading a needle but couldn't get the thread through. You offered some advice."
"What did I say?" Jesse asked, caught up in the story.
Su Sheng's smile turned mischievous. "You said, 'You can't get it in without licking it…'"
"That's it!" Jesse nodded, remembering that she had indeed said that while threading a needle.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Su Sheng grinned, lying back and looking at Jesse expectantly.
Jesse stared at him in shock as realization dawned. He's so bad! How did he come up with such a story? But despite herself, Jesse couldn't help but laugh, the humor easing her tension and nervousness. In truth…things weren't so bad. He had saved her twice, and apart from using her as a pillow, he hadn't done anything truly inappropriate.
Young, handsome, and powerful.
It would have been perfect if he wasn't so ruthless about killing people.
As these thoughts ran through her mind, Su Sheng pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her neck. Half pushing, half yielding, everything began to fall into place.
Those wild nights are always followed by mornings where getting out of bed feels impossible.
The two of them slept until noon the next day before finally waking up.
Jesse, having undergone her first transformation, looked the same but carried a strange new allure. They say the quickest way to a woman's heart is through intimacy, and indeed, her feelings had shifted. Instead of resentment, she felt shy but not unhappy.
After taking a shower and grabbing something to eat, they realized the day was nearly over. Su Sheng tried calling Kara Danvers, but her phone was off—probably because she was processing the truth about Alex's identity and work. Deciding not to dwell on it, Su Sheng took Jesse out of the apartment and summoned the Codex, flying out of National City to a secluded area to begin working on the new suit.
While crafting the new suit, Su Sheng multitasked, completing two other projects:
First, he created a red uniform for Jesse, removing the lightning bolt symbol.
Second, he designed a specialized steel suit for Alex. Functionally, it was similar to the one he had made for Laura, but with an additional feature: the ability to convert Kryptonite energy. However, Su Sheng wasn't entirely altruistic in this endeavor. To ensure he could track Alex's movements, he had Gideon hide a surveillance program within the suit. The tech in this world was advanced, but it was unlikely anyone would discover it. With this in place, Su Sheng would have complete oversight of Alex's activities—and, by extension, those of the ARGUS.
Additionally, the suit's carrier was reduced to a ring for convenience.
Time slipped by, and although the new suit wasn't finished yet, Su Sheng decided to call it a day. He took Jesse back to the apartment, handed her the new uniform, and then headed back to the power plant from the previous night.
The power plant was eerily quiet.
Alex stood alone in the moonlight, dressed in her agent uniform.
Boom!
Su Sheng descended from the sky, clad in his steel battle suit.
Scanning the area, Su Sheng locked eyes with Alex and spoke slowly. "What's with all the activity at night? Agents are human too—they need rest."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the only one here," Alex replied calmly.
Su Sheng smiled.
"You lie so convincingly, I almost believe you. So I'll pretend I don't see the sixteen agents hiding around us—or Director Hank Henshaw," Su Sheng chuckled, suddenly grabbing Alex and launching into the sky.
"Damn it!" Hank Henshaw cursed from the shadows. He ordered the agents to retreat but hesitated for a moment before quietly slipping away from the group.